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The ADA has learned that the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is now reviewing an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed rule to reduce the amount of dental amalgam that dental offices release into wastewater systems. Following the OMB's review (assuming OMB approval, usually within 90 days) EPA will publish the proposed rule for comment. This is the first significant development on an amalgam separator mandate since the EPA first announced its intention to develop a rule in September 2010.

The ADA has consulted with the EPA a number of times since 2010. The EPA understands that the ADA supports a reasonable national pretreatment standard for amalgam waste as long as it is not unduly burdensome on dental professionals.